Why Google Reviews Alone Won't Cut It Anymore 🤔

Here's the Real Deal 👇

I was in a local Facebook group yesterday, and someone was asking for optician recommendations.

Know what happened? Nobody shared Google Review links.

Instead, people were sharing personal experiences from Facebook, discussing posts they had seen, and sharing links to other review sites.

The Harsh Truth About Playing the One-Platform Game 😬

A garage door company we work with learned this the hard way. Their Google Reviews were spotless - seriously, they were crushing it. But when their Google listing had technical issues for a week (yep, it happens), their phone went deadly quiet. Why? Because they had no backup.

Let's Get Real for a Minute...

Think about how you last looked for a physio or osteopath.

Did you just Google it and pick the first 5-star clinic? Nah, bet you:

• Asked mates on Facebook
• Checked out their social media
• Maybe even looked at some health-specific review sites
• Probably scrolled through local community groups

Here's What Actually Works

The Secret Sauce 🌟

Here's what I told a driving instructor last week (and it worked a treat):

• Get your Google game strong, yeah, but don't stop there

• Jump on Facebook - perfect for proud learners posting their pass photos



• Build up those Trustpilot reviews - parents love 'em

• Have direct feedback displayed on your own website

• Keep an eye on local community groups

• Mix it up with different types of feedback

Quick Story That'll Make You Think 🤔

Take this entertainment company we work with - they do everything from corporate events to kids' parties as part of their offering. They were obsessed with Google Reviews until they had this eye-opening moment. 

They spotted that different customers were hunting for recommendations in totally different places - parents in Facebook groups, corporate clients on Trustpilot, etc. Once they started spreading their review strategy across all these platforms, their bookings exploded. Not just for kids' parties, but across their whole range of services. Last time we chatted, they were turning down bookings because they were so rammed!

Listen, I'm Not Saying Ditch Google...

I haven’t completely lost my mind…

Just don't put all your eggs in Mountain View's basket (that's where Google HQ is, by the way - bit of pub quiz knowledge for you there!).

Some Real Talk 🎯

• Different customers = different platforms
• Some people trust Facebook more than Google (weird but true)
• Local directory sites still pack a punch
• Industry-specific review sites give you proper street cred

Bottom Line?

Be everywhere your customers are looking. Simple as that.

P.S. If you're scratching your head about managing reviews across different platforms without losing your marbles, give us a call, we’ll explain a simple method for gathering and spreading your reviews evenly across different platforms 📞